Hogwarts: Harry Returns from Azeroth

Chapter 157 156. Harry's Distress and Professor Potter's Appointment
As a man who lived a refined life, even when he was a professor at Hogwarts, Lockhart was unwilling to use the things used by previous professors. Instead, he brought his own furniture - from carpets to chandeliers, he brought everything himself.

As for the cabinets and sundry items left behind by successive Defense Against the Dark Arts professors... there were so many things that made Lockhart's scalp tingle just looking at them, not to mention keeping them with him, so he piled them together without even looking at them carefully, and unexpectedly missed out on such exquisite ornaments.

"It does look valuable." Harry roughly estimated the price of the headdress. Apart from anything else, the gem in the middle was really big.

When Quirrell was still there last year, Harry had seen this headdress several times in this office, and there was no fluctuation of dark magic. But that's right, the things left by Quirrell were inspected by Dumbledore, and the fact that it was eventually left behind and handed over to the next Defense Against the Dark Arts professor along with other things is enough to explain the problem.

"Hahahahahahaha" Lockhart laughed happily. He kept changing angles next to the mirror, trying to find the most suitable pose for taking pictures wearing this headdress.

Speechless to this narcissistic man, Harry looked down at the lesson plan in his hand.

At first glance - no, it should be said that at the first nose, Harry smelled a strong scent of men's perfume. What made Harry feel outrageous was that the edge of the parchment was printed with the silhouette of Lockhart's profile.

Well, putting himself in Professor McGonagall's perspective, Harry felt that the old professor might not like this style of parchment.

The adorable menace of Cornish pixies

[…The goal is to learn the 'Dangerous Creature Taming Technique' taught by Gilderoy Lockhart in "The Magical Me"…]

[…Experience the mischievous psychology of elves firsthand (with a smiling photo of Lockhart surrounded by a group of ugly elves next to it)…]

[…Using a quill to copy Lockhart’s anti-elf charm…]

【…】

Harry silently put the lesson plan back on the table.

He couldn't imagine it—he really couldn't imagine it!
Especially the anti-elf charm, isn't that Lockhart's signature in cursive?

To be honest, Harry felt a little sympathetic towards Professor McGonagall... Although Lockhart was not satisfied with the lesson plan he had just seen, even if Harry used his butt to think, he felt that what Lockhart would eventually hand in would not satisfy Professor McGonagall.

Well, no wonder the respectable old professor held his breath when mentioning Lockhart.

Harry was already beginning to regret why he wanted to ask Lockhart for advice.

"Thank you for your lesson plan, Professor Lockhart," Harry said expressionlessly as he walked towards the door, "I already know how to write it. Goodbye."

"Is that so? I'm glad I could help you, Harry," Lockhart said loudly behind him, "Don't forget what I said. If you don't understand anything, just ask me directly."

To Harry's surprise, Lockhart did not follow him and continue to talk about his boasting until he closed the door and left.

Harry finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling lucky that he had walked through the goblin's lair and still managed to protect his wallet.

Without any further incidents, Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room smoothly. Hermione was reading a book near the fireplace, while Ron and Neville were playing wizard chess.

"You're back? Harry?" Turning his head, he saw Harry's figure. Neville's originally bitter face suddenly smiled. He wiped the chess pieces on the table, stood up and moved a chair to the table for Harry, "Hurry up and sit down!"

"Hey! Neville?!" Looking at the mess of chess pieces in front of him, Ron shouted in amazement: "You can't do this! This is cheating!"

"How can this be called cheating?" Neville blushed and stammered, "I give up! Well, Harry just happened to be back, aren't you curious about the professor?"

"So Harry, what did Professor McGonagall say?" Hermione asked anxiously, "Now that the timetables have been sent out, when are your classes scheduled?"

"There should be a new timetable by then," Harry replied, "but that's not the most important thing. I need your help, Hermione."

"What kind of help?" Hermione rubbed her hands and said confidently, "Leave it all to me!"

"Remember what you wrote down in the club's classes?" Harry explained, "Shaman classes also need their own teaching materials. I would like to ask you to help organize them into a book suitable for beginners according to the difficulty level of learning."

"Ron and Neville, you also have to help. In addition to describing the responsibilities and missions of the shamans and the creeds they need to abide by, this book also needs to record your feelings and experiences when you establish a connection with the earth element."

"No problem," Ron said, patting his chest. "Although I have only been a shaman for a short time, I have drunk the spirit bond potion so many times. No one knows better than me what it feels like to establish a connection with the elements!"

It feels like killing a pig with a blunt knife, and I feel it clearly and carefully.

"Don't worry, Harry, we will also ask other apprentices for their opinions," Hermione asked curiously, "but does this book only talk about establishing a connection with the earth element?"

"That's all the beginners' textbooks can teach them. They need to first know what a shaman is. Establishing a connection with the earth element can only satisfy the beginners' curiosity," said Harry.

"So this textbook will be used in the first grade?" Hermione nodded and said, "What about the other six grades?"

"This question..." Harry hesitated. "Given the special requirements for becoming a shaman, I am not going to divide the classes into seven grades."

"What do you mean?" Ron asked blankly.

"What I mean is that I plan to divide them according to the learning stage," Harry explained. "For example, with this beginner textbook, whether it is the first grade or the seventh grade, as long as they have not yet established a connection with the second element, they will all be placed in the same class."

"Then those who have mastered the four elements will be in one class, and those who have begun to explore the essence of the elements or all spirits will be in another class. I plan to only offer these three types of classes, and I will write the corresponding textbooks as soon as possible."

When Harry thought of this, he felt overwhelmed.

After all, this textbook for beginners was adapted from Hermione's records of what she taught in class, while the textbooks for the other two classes had no trace of it - Hermione couldn't help much in this matter, so he had to write it himself.

Harry had never imagined that being a professor in this world would be such a troublesome thing. When he was in Azeroth, he had seen how the old shaman taught his apprentices. There were no classes at all. He just kept the apprentices by his side, and the apprentices would watch and learn by themselves.

At most, I will teach you some spells or answer some questions. As for more... the elements and spirits will tell them themselves.

It’s a pity that the elements and all spirits in this world cannot be discussed.

"That means we need three books in total," Ron counted on his fingers, "Does that mean that after we sort them out, new students will need to go to Flourish and Blotts to buy these three books?"

The textbooks that new students need to buy were actually written with his participation. Ron couldn't help getting excited just thinking about it, and he wanted to go find Fred and George to brag about it.

"More than three," Harry sighed heavily, "I also have to write two learning manuals for Elemental and Minotaur... Sigh."

"Pfft." It was rare to see Harry looking so sad, so Hermione suddenly laughed, "Well, then by that calculation, wouldn't students who want to take shaman classes in the future have to buy at least five books?"

"Right," Ron said with an expression of sudden enlightenment, "Lockhart sold seven books each, and Harry only sold five. He's still far behind."

Harry: "..."

No, wait a minute.

Hermione was no longer smiling with her lips pursed, but was biting her lips to stop herself from laughing out loud.

"That's still different, Ron," Neville scratched his head and said, "Lockhart sold seven books to everyone in the grade, but Harry doesn't have that many apprentices." Harry: "..."

Neville, Neville, you'd better not say anything.

"Pfft, hahahahaha!"

Finally she couldn't help it anymore, Hermione held her belly and burst into laughter, she laughed so hard that she buried her head in the table, and with her arms around the table, only her shoulders could be seen shaking, and from time to time, a few broken laughs could be heard that could not be suppressed.

"...Laugh, everyone laugh." Harry also sighed in self-mockery, "You were laughing at Lockhart before, but now I am the same as him."

"hahahahahahahahahahaha!"

This time it wasn't just Hermione who laughed, even Ron and Neville laughed too.

Several people present had lived in the Burrow for some time, so they all knew Fred and George's hatred for Lockhart - especially the seven books. The two brothers finally found a perfect shield.

Whenever Mrs. Weasley mentioned Lockhart with reverence, Fred and George would say "seven books" or "being a professor" respectively, and soon, Mrs. Weasley never mentioned Lockhart again.

Well, even the book "Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Getting Rid of Household Pests" on the fireplace is gone. I don't know where it has been taken to... It probably won't be lost, after all, the methods mentioned above are indeed useful.

"No, I can't," Ron laughed and panted, "I really want to see what Fred and George will look like when they find out - hahahahahaha!"

The brothers have been plotting against Lockhart since yesterday's matriculation dinner, in order to avenge the seven books... and there are even many people who want to join in the revenge.

This is the first time that students have conspired to play a prank on their professor on the first day of school.

But it has nothing to do with Harry anymore. It is foreseeable that he will be extremely busy this week.

The next day, Harry sent the list and lesson plan to Professor McGonagall's office. There was nothing expensive on the list, just an application for a piece of land. He also explained to Professor McGonagall that his students were divided differently from other professors.

"…There shouldn't be any problem. Professor Dumbledore wouldn't object to such a small matter." Without giving an answer immediately, Professor McGonagall frowned and thought for a moment before saying, "But Harry, have you ever thought about the OWL exams and NEWTs?"

The OWL exam is the Ordinary Wizarding Level exam, which is aimed at fifth-year students at Hogwarts and is administered by the Wizarding Examinations Authority. Students who pass the exam will receive an Ordinary Wizarding Level certificate.

The NEWTs exam is the ultimate wizard exam. As the name suggests, it is more professional and has higher requirements than ordinary wizard level exams.

The results of these two exams will be directly related to how easy it is for students to find a job after graduation. Obviously, the higher the score, the more subjects passed, the better.

"If I remember correctly, to become a shaman you have to establish a connection with the elements?" asked Professor McGonagall.

"Yes, this is also something I want to apply to you for. Like last year, I want students who are willing to become shamans to try again." Harry continued: "With the revival of elemental power in the environment, it will become easier and easier to establish a connection with the elements."

"So even a seventh-year student, after drinking that bottle of, um, Earth Bond Potion?" Professor McGonagall thought for a moment and said, "Can he become a shaman after drinking that potion? Even if he couldn't see the elements in the first six years?"

"Yes" Harry was also a little helpless.

"So what are you going to do?" Professor McGonagall asked with a serious face, "If you start studying again in the seventh year, what should you do with the OWL and NEWTs exams? Also, where will the students of this course find employment? Whether it's the Ministry of Magic or Gringotts, many jobs have corresponding exam score requirements."

"You are already a professor, Harry, so the rules for students will no longer apply to you, and I will constrain you as the vice-president and require you to do things that are in line with your status." Professor McGonagall continued: "You need to consider these in advance. This weekend, the deans will provide career guidance to all fifth-year students. You know, we don't know much about shamans."

"...I understand." Harry nodded and said, "According to my current thinking, if a seventh-year student has established a connection with the elements and he wants to continue on the path of shamanism, then he can only live in Hogsmeade, pay for his own food and clothing, and continue to study here with me every day."

Students who have graduated are not allowed to live in Hogwarts.

"As for employment, don't worry. Professor, you should know my ideals. These shaman apprentices will have plenty of things to do... Well, I plan to establish an organization with the purpose of reviving elements, called the Earth Ring, and I will pay them wages when the time comes."

Salary and Galleons were another headache for Harry. After all, the property he inherited from the Potter family was not enough to support the development of an organization, even with the share of the Shining Potion.

Gotta figure it out.

"The Earth Ring?" Professor McGonagall asked in surprise, "You pay them a salary?"

"The prerequisite is that he is a shaman with sufficient strength that I recognize," Harry added, "a shaman who can go out independently and contribute to the revival of the elements."

"That's good too," Professor McGonagall consoled.

"Also, elemental magic is different from previous magic. As the elements continue to revive, the Ministry of Magic should also set up new departments to deal with it. By then, apprentices who have completed their studies can also go to work in the Ministry of Magic." Harry thought for a moment and said, "As for the exam, there is nothing we can do. I will discuss it with Ms. Marchbank of the Wizarding Examinations Authority to see if we can take the exam alone."

"Ms. Marchbank?" Professor McGonagall nodded. "Yes, since your course has just started, you don't have to rush the exam... But don't forget, Harry, this is related to the future lives of many students after all."

"I understand," Harry said seriously.

It has to be said that although professors at Hogwarts enjoy legal privileges and various benefits, they also have to bear a lot of responsibilities. As the vice-president, it is normal for Professor McGonagall to have some concerns.

As he turned to leave the Transfiguration Office, Harry glanced and saw a piece of parchment placed under Professor McGonagall's desk. A light gray Lockhart was waving at him from it... It was obvious that the lesson plan had been used in the most appropriate place.

Which is a good thing.

....................................

It was only the first week of school, but from the perspective of the other Gryffindors, Harry and the other three looked as if they were in the last week before the final exams.

It's the feeling of risking your life to review.

But this time, even Ron, who loved telling stories, didn't spread any news in advance until Thursday, when an owl flew across the hall to the students during breakfast.

"Harry Potter, the youngest professor in Hogwarts history?!!"

Without even turning their heads, several people heard incredible shouts coming from the Slytherin table behind them.

Almost at the same time, all eyes at the long tables were fixed on Harry, and Ron - this kid was smiling so hard that the corners of his mouth were almost split to his ears, and he looked even more proud than Harry.

The front page headline of this morning's Daily Prophet was about Hogwarts hiring Harry Potter as a professor.

After the Daily Prophet's popularization of elements, this ubiquitous basic substance, ordinary wizards in the magical world are no longer unfamiliar with it. Today's Daily Prophet also explained the necessity for Hogwarts to keep pace with the times and increase courses. Rita wrote a lot about it.

No one had the heart to continue eating breakfast. For a moment, the whole restaurant was filled with whispers. Students talked to each other and looked in Harry's direction and pointed from time to time.

The students of Gryffindor College were much more direct. For example, the Weasley twins had already hugged Harry, one on each side, and were accusing him of being so mean and not telling them about this earlier.

(End of this chapter)